officers, and every available man of warrant rank, too, who could be spared from duty on deck.
Herrick paused and said uncertainly, 'It seems a long time since a wardroom was my home.'
Bolitho looked at him. 'And mine. When I was twenty I thought that life became easy when you were promoted captain. I soon learned differently. And now I know that each span of authority has its snares, as well as its privilege.'
Herrick nodded. 'More the former than the latter, in my opinion.'
Bolitho tugged his coat into place, the movement involuntary and unnoticed. Herrick had not mentioned Adam or any part of the cutting-out since his return aboard. But he guessed it was rarely absent from his thoughts. He remembered when Pascoe had served with Herrick as a midshipman aboard his little two-decker, Impulsive. It was strange how he had felt about it. Jealous perhaps? Afraid that the boy's trust in Herrick might change to something closer than he himself could offer?
It all came surging up again, like a demon which had been biding its time.
Like the moment when he had arrived at Gibraltar, which should have been the proudest time in his service. Hearing about Adam's gesture on his behalf, risking disgrace or maiming in a forbidden duel.
There must be something deep in our family, he thought bitterly. With little training or effort, so many of them had proved unnaturally skilful with the sword. He could recall exactly standing face to face with a French lieutenant aboard a privateer in the East Indies. Face to face, both almost spent, but each holding on to that madness which only battle can sustain. He had felt something like pity for the man. Willing him to give in. Knowing, even as he parried the other's blade aside for that last fatal blow, that he could not help himself.
He said sharply, 'Well, Thomas, let us be about it then.' The Lysander's wardroom was packed with men. As Herrick led the way aft Bolitho was again reminded of his own youthful days as a junior lieutenant in a ship of the line such as this. Then, he had wondered about the men who lived and dreamed in the cabins above the wardroom. Admiral or captain, it had made little difference then.
He glanced at the expectant faces as they stood back to make a passage for him. Some he vaguely recognised from their duties about the upper deck. Others he did not know at all.
The immature expressions of the lieutenants set against the more controlled scrutiny of the warrant officers. Grubb's great shape beside Yeo, the boatswain, and against the stenmost eighteen-pounder a severe looking man who he guessed was Corbyn, the gunner.
The scarlet coats of the marines seemed to overshadow the untidy clump of midshipmen, there were about eight or nine of them present, while managing to stay slightly apart from all the rest, Edgar Mewse, the purser, and Shacklock, the surgeon, completed the gathering.
Gilchrist reported, 'All present, sir, but for the fourth lieutenant, Mr. Kipling, who has the watch. And Mr. Midshipman Blenkame who shares it with him.'
Herrick cleared his throat and then laid his hat on a table. 'Thank you. '
Bolitho nodded. 'Be seated, gentlemen. I will be as brief as I can.'
He waited impassively as they scrambled for chairs and sea chests, the most comfortable places going to the most senior, until a mere handful of midshipmen were left nothing but the hard deck to sit upon.
Bolitho said, 'The flag captain will have told you what we are about. The bones of the plan are that we shall close the land on the day after tomorrow at first light and destroy what enemy shipping we cannot take as prizes. '
He saw two of the midshipmen nudging each other cheer- fully. One he recognised as Saxby, his wide, gap- toothed grin as broad as if he had just been promised a month's leave on full pay.
'If the wind goes against us we will stand off and act accordingly.' He glanced at Grubb's battered face. 'But the master has promised full co-operation from a higher authority than mine.'
There was laughter' and a good deal of humour at Grubb's expense. He remained immovable in their midst, but Bolitho could see the pleasure his comment had given him. He knew Herrick was watching him all the time. He of all people would see through his mask, his efforts to show the assembled officers that their commodore was a man beyond and above inner despair.
Bolitho had lost many good friends at sea. There was no friendship stronger than one born in the demanding hardship of a man 0' war. Sea and disease, the sword or a cannon's harvest had pared away many such faces. It was no wonder that these men could accept Pascoe's absence. Hardly any of them had been together long enough to know the pain of such a loss.
He realised they had fallen silent, that he must have been standing for several seconds without speaking.
Almost harshly he continued, 'To create as much confusion as possible, we will land Lysander's marines under cover of darkness.'
He sought out Major Leroux who was sitting, arms folded and stiff-backed, beside his lieutenant. He had met Leroux only formally, but he had been impressed. It was always difficult to break the inbuilt contempt for the marines, the 'bullocks', which was common amongst most ships' companies. Their rigid ideas of drill and organised discipline in the worst of situations were at odds with the more casual and boisterous behaviour of the average seaman. Bolitho had come up against many marine officers, and although he had soon grown to respect their loyalty and prowess in battle, he had rarely discovered one who had displayed much initiative. Nepean, the marine lieutenant, for instance, was fairly typical. Impeccably dressed and ready to answer the call to duty at any hour, his eyes had the empty glassiness of one quite happy to obey rather than to lead.
But Major Jermyn Leroux was totally different. Tall and square-shouldered, he had the outward appearance of a scholar, despite his military bearing. Bolitho had spoken with him on the quarterdeck about the training and recruitment of his marines, but never once had Leroux made an idle boast, or suggested he could offer something beyond his means.
He said, 'I will discuss the final details with you tomorrow, Major.'
Leroux nodded. He had still, rather sad eyes, and an expression of a man who felt strangely out of place.
He replied, 'Allowing for marines who are sick and otherwise unfit for duty, sir, I can muster ninety men.'
'That will be sufficient.' Bolitho turned to Herrick. 'swivels in the boats, and grapnels in case we need to scale
